Vijay Leelani

Proven track record of driving profitability, optimizing risk frameworks, and leading large-scale operational transformations. Adept at board-level collaboration, regulatory compliance, and building high-performing teams that deliver sustainable growth. Dynamic and results-driven professional with 20 years of qualitative success in setting up company operations, establishing business mission and vision, advising on emerging industry standards to develop new products, and developing & executing strategic management policies to achieve financial goals.

Certified Six Sigma Green

Belt with thorough understanding of underwriting and experience across various insurance companies. Hands-on experience in negotiating with financial authorities, controlling shareholder interests and exploring growth possibilities. Recognized people manager with proven success in managing business workflow and efficiently mobilizing resources.

Skilled in enhancing performance, driving corporate strategy at utmost high level, creating shareholder value and providing strategic advisory to Board/Senior Level.

Chief Underwriting Officer at Bandhan Life Insurance Limited (2024-05 – Present)

Leading chief underwriting operations, risk management, and strategic initiatives for life insurance underwriting.

• Designed and implemented advanced risk models, reducing claims volatility by 15% and automated risk-scoring engine that flagged high-risk submissions and reduced manual review volume by 85%
• Chair Mortality control unit for last 15 months
• Partnered with actuarial, finance and product teams to ensure pricing adequacy, capital efficiency and competitive positioning
• Spearheaded digital underwriting initiatives, introducing predictive analytics that cut application turnaround time by 40%
• Report directly to Appointed Actuary & CEO on underwriting performance, risk exposure, and market trends
• Designed and implemented enterprise-wide risk framework, reducing loss ratio by 12%
• Designed portfolio concentration limits that prevented single-event exposure above appetite by 30% and preserved solvency metrics during stress scenarios
• Negotiated reinsurance treaties, improving capital adequacy and reducing mortality risk exposure
• Introduced evidence-based underwriting guidelines, increasing consistency and reducing adverse selection
• Strengthened distribution partnerships, expanding market share in high-growth segments
• Spearheaded adoption of AI-driven underwriting tools, cutting processing time (Gen AI underwriting worksheet results in average turnaround time from 2 days to 4.3 hours)
• Mentored and coached senior underwriter achieving 15% promotion rate and 95% retention of resources
• Active member of various committees including Claims, Product Management, Product Implementation, Mortality Control, ORM, IRC, RCC, Rule Review, Term Strategy, Business Planning, Reinsurance, Compliant
• Lead 5 department audits and closed all audit findings with zero repeat findings on subsequent review (3 audits concluded with highest ratings)
• Implement 94 early claims learnings resulting in Null & Void 278 Cr fraud policies
• Earned highest score in GPTW initiative, Department survey & Peer review
• Special PASA campaigns resulting in issuance of 18.5 Cr
• Sets underwriting direction, ensures risk discipline, drives profitability, and balances regulatory compliance with business growth
• Foster a culture of accountability and innovation within underwriting
• Established enterprise-wide underwriting guidelines and training program, improving guideline adherence from 72% to 98% in 9 months

Vice President Underwriting (Automation, Group Underwriting, MIS, Business Rule Engine, and Dashboard) at ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Private Limited (2021-08 – 2024-05)

Vice President leading underwriting automation, group underwriting operations, MIS development, business rule engine, and dashboard creation.

• Crafted the vision to develop the business and benefits through value-chain adjacencies to minimize operational risks in business mode for entire operations
• Got Best Audit rating in Group Business in the last two years
• Strategy, Business & Product Development for Life, Health, Accident & Group plans and provide technical support to Underwriting, Claims, Reinsurance & Treaty Administration teams
• Automate entire Group business resulting in 98% STP with issuance TAT reduced to 4 hours
• Data Driven Underwriting & Claims Solutions, Predictive Underwriting, Technical Case Underwriting, Guidelines changes, Team Training, Bench-marking Surveys
• Conduct Experience Analysis of Life & Group portfolio quarterly
• Planned, directed and controlled entire business operations and reporting activities
• Oversaw a team of associate-level staff members, assigning cases to assess and underwrite, ensuring expectations and delivery timelines
• Holds an underwriting limit of INR 25,00,00,000 (300 EMR & 10 PMA)
• Ensured smooth run of operations by acting as technical point of reference for operational and business development staff
• Delivered underwriting input to large group schemes and complex claims, developed group quote engines and data analysis
• Driving the innovation and transformation of Group Life in the changing insurance environment including technology disruption, machine learning, big data, wellness tools, behavioral economics and product simplification
• Spearheaded a team of 125 members (7 Direct and 118 indirect reportees) and 25 consultants
• Increased business growth by evaluating, pricing and modifying group schemes

Bachelor of Pharmacy